Hunter River vs Newcastle

Peter West Shield

After the walloping received in our first rep match against the Central Coast, the Hunter side made amends by taking their nemesis the strong Newcastle team, to the wire at Charlestown Golf Club.

The Hunter side were defending the Peter West Shield after their glorious victory in 2009 at Kurri. Towards the latter stages of the match it looked like an upset was on the cards, and at worst a draw. Officials on both sides were not game to call a result, in case of finishing with egg on their face.

The final result, a win to Newcastle by the margin of 10 - 8 was indicative of the closeness. A close scrutiny of the results reveals nine of the eighteen matches finished on the last hole. Four of them finished squared and five other matches decided on the 18th.

With only two matches on the course it was Newcastle holding a slender 9 - 7 lead and the Hunter were in the box seat. Mark Hale playing at number one had a mini choke after being 3 up with 5 to play. Coming to the eighteenth he maintained a one hole lead but capitulated, taking a horrific double bogey to lose the hole and halve his match against the big hitting Mark Ellison.

His playing partner junior Nathan Waters was also one up teeing off on the last  hole but suffered a "Greg Norman moment" when his opponent Clayton Bridges drained a thirty foot snake on the final hole, to square the match.

Congratulations to juniors Brad Bastick and Hayden Gulliver scoring fines wins in their first rep matches.

Special thanks to Life Member Bob McKenzie who stepped into the breach as motivator, when other members of committee were unavailable due to social commitments.

The team are all fired up for the return match next year, with a strong rumour it will be played at Kurri.

Hunter River vs Central Coast

Artie Mollett Shield 2010

An understrength District side went into the annual match against the Central Coast DGA with hopes of dishing up another thrashing, particularly as it was being played on home turf at Branxton. The euphoria of the victory in 2009 at Wyong, was not quite as obvious after the Central Coast avenged their loss in no uncertain terms.

The local side was thumped to the tune of 13½ matches to 4½ close to our biggest ever loss.

At the half way mark there was no indication of what lay ahead. After 9 holes we led in 3 matches were square in 3 matches and 1 down in 5 matches. Things changed dramatically as match after match came off the course in favour of the visitors. In fact with three matches remaining on the course the Hunter side had only 1½ matches to its credit, that being senior Ross Banks with a creditable halved match against Norm Hollis and team captain Fluff Clark, playing in the colts division, won his match 3 & 1.

A forlorn Dave Parkinson, was not doing his usual, darting from hole to hole, spurring on his players followed by a cloud of smoke, but sought solace in a glass on the club balcony.

Thankfully the top 3 senior players Mark Hale, Andrew Partridge and Scott Hayes won their matches and made the final score a little more respectable.

The Seniors returned the best result, drawing 3 apiece, Colts went down 2 - 1, Masters down by 2½ - ½ and the Juniors down 6 - 0.

Unfortunately the majority of our current string of juniors were at South West Rocks for the Jack Newton Masters event, and the team was made up of the players of the future. In all they acquitted themselves to the best of their ability and will be better for the experience.

The full match results are listed below.

We now look forward to regrouping to meet Newcastle at Charlestown on the 27 June, 2010,and salvaging something for the year.

Bob Robards, President of the Central Coast, has recently stood down as councillor to the NSWGA after 12 years. Bob will be remembered for never taking a backward step and calling it he saw it, providing many a light moment at dour meetings.

From the many friends you have made during your long association with the Hunter River, we wish you all the best and look forward to catching up with you at the match next year.

Inter District & Country Championship - Murrumbidgee Golf Club

Saturday & Sunday, 7 & 8 November, 2009

The District selectors gamble in picking a youthful team to represent at the Country Championships almost paid dividends. The Senior team was made up of 3 senior stalwarts, bolstered by two of our up & coming juniors Cameron Benkovic and Connor Walton.

The Junior side was made up of three juniors who have been in hot form of late, particularly Nathan Waters.

The team travelled to Canberra on the Friday and took the opportunity to get a feel for the course with a practice round.

With a late hit off on Saturday, the team enjoyed a sleep in on Saturday morning, then prepared for golf at their leisure.

The players really jumped out of the box scoring brilliantly early, to the point where one official was having premature thoughts of a victory. Four holes out from home on Saturday, and the Senior team were looking at possibly being overnight leaders, the worst score being one over par. But then the gremlins set in and shots were frittered away.

In the wash up at the half way mark, the team finished on 291, in third position, seven strokes in arrears.

On Sunday morning the team were first off, having the best of conditions, before the heat set. Unfortunately, the players couldn't make any improvement on their scores of the preceding day, and at the conclusion finished in 5th position, 22 shots behind the Northern Rivers team.

The Country Champion was Luke Henwood, from the Maclean Golf Club, who finished on 138, 6 under par.

 The junior team played a similar game to the senior counterparts, scoring well early and dropping vital shots towards the end of their opening round.

Nathan Waters drained a snake on his 11th hole to fight back to even par, but dropped 3shots over the final holes for an opening 75. Dylan Perry took a double bogey on the 14th hole after finishing dead behind a large tree to go to 6 over, but dragged it back with two birdies to finish 4 over. Nick Gulliver, played valiantly but a snowman (8) on the second hole, saw him fall away for an opening 88. At he end of day one, the juniors were in 7th position, 7 shots behind.

On Sunday, it was the same story for the juniors, as the seniors, with only Nathan Waters returning a respectable 79, whilst both Dylan and Nick shot their worst rounds for some time.

Overall the junior team finished in 10th place, behind the Central West team.

Overall it was a creditable performance for our teams. No doubt the younger brigade will benefit from the experience.

The junior Country Champion was Newcastle golfer Kris Mayan on 140, 4 under par.

HUNTER MAKES IT TWO OUT OF TWO

The District side completed the daily double in their annual representative matches, making 2009 a memorable year for the Association. After a comprehensive win against Central Coast in May, the side faced up to their nemesis in the Newcastle team, at Kurri on Sunday 28 June, 2009. In fact, our first victory in many years against Newcastle was at the Kurri course in 2003. Astute selections by the selectors, gave the District hope that the 2003 dose might be repeated in 2008. And so it did as the day panned out.

Normally, in our match against Newcastle, at the halfway mark our side usually holds a slender lead, only to be run down over the closing stages. On Sunday the shoe was on the other foot, with Newcastle holding a 9 to 7 lead, with 2 matches square. Over the closing holes, sensing a victory, District Captain Dave Parkinson, tacked at the rate of knots, from match to match, encouraging his players.

Over the concluding 9 holes our players maintained their advantage, and picked up further matches to win the P.R. West Shield 10 matches to 8.

Veteran Rob Logue was 3 down at the turn and fought back against Peter Colllins to win 2 and 1. The other meritorious comeback was junior Nick Gulliver who came back from 2 down after 9 holes to win 1 up. Nick siezed on every of his opponent's errors like a seagull on a chip, to whittle away the lead and win the match.

Andrew Wyper, playing on his home course, was expected to win comfortably, but had to birdie the final two holes, to win 2 up. On the final hole Andrew lay 30 feet from the pin, putting for a birdie, with his opponent in the hole for a par 5. A three putt would see the loss of hole and square his match. On two occasions he had to step away from his putt due to inconsiderate bystanders yapping on the side of the green. On the third occasion he settled down over the putt and calmly stroked it into the hole for a birdie.

Newcastle were bolstered by the return of former rep player, veteran Snow Gorton, but he came up against an in form Chris Ford, who played above himself to square the match.

Overall convincing wins by the Senior and Junior divisions paved the way for the win. District official are now seriously considering the locking the match in at Kurri every second year, when we host it.

Congratulations to the Newcastle players, officials and their wives, for the gracious manner in which they accepted their unexpected loss.

In his acceptance speech, District Captain Michael "Fluff" Clark, put the double win down to the change in team uniform, with a move away from the regular sky blue shirts to the navy /black variety.

HUNTER REP SIDE IN BOILOVER WIN

The astute Hunter River selectors introduced new blood into the rep team and came up with a winning formula in their annual match against the Central Coast DGA for the Artie Mollett Shield. Since the last match the Central Coast have loosened the purse strings and provided a new shield following the demise of the original trophy, which had suffered heavily from the many trips between the Districts, and being stored under a bed since its inception in 1982.

On what started out a breezy day soon deteriorated when the blustery westerly winds hit making golfing conditions very difficult. Several players from both sides lost their caps to the water holes when the wind blew them off.

At the half way mark the the Hunter side held a slender one match margin. The Seniors were tied at 3 matches each, Juniors were up 4/2, Colts up 2 1/2 to a 1/2 and the Veterans down in all 3 matches. If history was any guide, the norm would be that the Hunter side would get run down over the final nine holes. This was not to be.

Into the second nine the Hunter side fought on grimly to edge ahead and earn a meritorious win.

With six matches still in the course Central Coast held a 2 match lead, and their leading official offering to call off the remaining games and claim the win. When Hunter squared it up at 7 all he was seen nervously pacing the clubhouse and eventually proceeded onto the course to witness the action.

From that point on it was all Hunter taking the Shield 11 matches to 7, a convincing win.

Our juniors provided the backbone of the win, taking 5 of their matches and halving the other. Special mention should be made of Mitch Butler, who has reaped the reward of conscientious practice, whilst the diminutive Nathan Waters fought back to win his match, after being down early.

Matt Kelly, who was behind in his match till the last hole, provided the gallery with an "Larry Mize" finish by chipping in from 40 metres from left of the green, to win the hole and halve his match.

In the old timers division James Hogg, maintained the coolness of a poker player, to fight on and claim a well deserved square.

Newcomer Eli Richardson playing his first rep game, was played at number one for the Colts and comfortably won his match 3 & 1, whilst Mac Dawson backed up with another solid win.

For the A graders, regular members Mark Hale, Andrew Partridge and Glen Marcheff won their matches, whilst Michael Clark, who led by two holes with three to go succumbed to the persistent Dave Willett, to go down on the last hole. Dave has been representing the Central Coast for over 20 years and on current form will be around for some years.

Once the Shield is engraved it will be handed on to the "caretaker" Bob McKenzie for safe keeping.

Thanks to the Central Coast team and officials for the hospitality extended and to Wyong for making their excellent course available.

Full results:

JUNIOR FOUR WAY - COL JOHNSTON SHIELD - STEELWORKS - 8/9 NOVEMBER, 2008

The District "apprentice" juniors confirmed the strength of golf in the Vallley when they were undefeated in the round robin match play event for the Col Johnston Shield, hosted by the Newcastle District at Shortland Waters.

The boys won their first match 4/3 against Lower North Coast on Saturday evening, then returned to dish up the same medicine to the Central Coast side on Sunday morning.

The final round was against Newcastle where the boys really lifted for a magnificent 5 ½ to 1 ½ victory over the normally strong host side.

It appears the next wave of District juniors are coming through which augurs well for golf in our District.

Adrian Chomiszak of Branxton was selected to attend the NSWGA Talented Athletes Camp in 2009.

Col Johnston Shield Winners:                    Hunter River DGA

                        Best Players:                        TAP Selections:

Central Coast DGA:                        Jason Butt                        Jason Butt

Hunter River DGA:                        Matt Butler                        Adrian Chomiszac

Lower North Coast DGA:                        Andrew Samson                        Andrew Samson & Ben Mason

Newcastle DGA:                        Nat Barnes                        Nat Barnes & Beau Macdonald

NEWCASTLE TAKES WEST SHIELD AGAIN 

A chilly morning greeted the players to the Merewether course for the annual inter district match against the Newcastle DGA.

Originally scheduled or a 9.00 am hit off the match was brought forward to 7.45 am, which in hindsight was a brilliant move by the innovative Newcastle committee, ensuring all players were safely in the Clubhouse when the afternoon storm swept through. 

The Newcastle team swept through the Hunter side like a dose of Epsom salts to clean up by the margin of 13 ½ matches to 4 ½. 

Our senior six lost all matches, colts went down  2 matches to 1, old timers lost 2 matches to 1 and the juniors were best overall performers, going down 3 ½ to 2 ½. 

Mention should be made of Nick Gulliver, who came in as a late replacement for Luke Gageler, and won his first major District match 3 & 2.

Andrew Marriott won his match, 2 up, but almost succumbed after leading by 5 holes with as many to play and Daniel Rigby fought bravely to square the only match out of the 18 contests. 

Following the loss, Vice President Bob McKenzie, who will lead our team (to be selected) into the regionals, has sworn there will be a marked improvement in performances under his leadership and motivational talks. 

The full results are listed below.

Hunter River vs Central Coast

Murrurundi - 26/27 April 2008

The Hunter District went down to the Central Coast in their annual match for the Artie Mollett Shield, which was staged at the picturesque Murrurundi Golf Course. Due to the extensive travel to be undertaken by the Central Coast team the match commenced on Saturday with a 9 hole 4Ball format, followed by the 18 hole individual matches on the Sunday morning.

The Hunter team went into the match confident as the majority of the Central Coast team had never experienced sand greens. The plan to ply the visitors with Murrurundi's favourite drop Green Ginger wine, on Saturday came apart when the club ran out of stock early in the evening.

Central Coast won the match 15 1/2 games to 11 1/2 games. The 4 match margin does not indicate the closeness of the result as 7 matches were halved. In 4 of those matches the Hunter players were 1 up going down the last and only to stumble at the post and draw their game.

To make matters worse Chris Ford was holding a slight advantage over his opponent, when he was crowned on the scone by a wayward Central Coast golf ball. He never recovered from the blow and succumbed to the pain eventually losing his match 3 & 2.

The adage "from the penthouse to the outhouse" reverberated around the Clubhouse after Martin Smith copped a 6 & 5 hiding at the hands of Central Coast captain Peter Sliwinski. Marty was on a high after winning his match against Newcastle late last year, then backed up last Sunday to win the District Sand Greens Championship at Merriwa. The selector will no doubt take this result into account when the next rep team comes up for selection.

The efforts and hospitality extended to players and officials cannot go without mention. The small club provided all meals for the 50 odd players and officials as well as providing a courtesy bus compliments of Ferguson Coaches to ferry all players and officials to and from the Club. 

BAKER TRINDER SHIELD 2008 AT MOREE GOLF CLUB

The Hunter River junior team relinquished their grip on the Baker Trinder Shield at Moree over the weekend of 29 & 30 March, 2008.

After recording two excellent wins in their matches on Saturday against Western and Central North, the team were comfortably positioned to take the Shield once again in their final match against the local side North West. The side could have lost the match 4/3 and still defended the Shield, by winning on points for.

Alas this wasn't to be with the local team causing an upset and winning by 5 matches to 2 and taking the coveted Shield.

Our team were gracious in defeat and the win by the North West side will be a boost to golf in the north of the State.